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Pinal woman convicted for aggravated assault on a police officer, after shooting at a PCSO Deputy

Date: 11/6/2013

Pinal woman convicted for aggravated assault on a police officer, after shooting at a PCSO Deputy

FLORENCE, AZ (11/06/13) – On Friday, November 1st, Pamela Williams, 65, was found guilty by a Pinal County jury on Use of Marijuana and Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer for shooting at a Pinal County Sheriff’s Deputy.

The case began four days into newly elected Pinal County Attorney Lando Voyles’ term, on January 4, 2013, when Pinal County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a dispute between neighbors near Saddlebrooke, AZ. One of the neighbors was the defendant Pamela Williams. As one of the Deputies approached the defendant’s home to protect the peace of the community and to ensure the neighbor dispute did not escalate, he heard two gunshots and saw a muzzle flash of a gunshot from the property. The defendant only stopped firing because the gun jammed.

Williams was taken into custody and while speaking to police, changed her story numerous times about where she fired and why she fired. The defendant consumed marijuana just prior to firing the shots.

The jury in this case sent a message. That message is that Pinal County cares about the safety of our Sheriff's deputies and police officers who protect our Pinal families. Arizona deserves the protection of the law and law enforcement should not face the danger of gunshots when they walk up to investigate crimes or protect the peace of our communities.

“If you believe you're entitled to the right to lawfully carry a gun in AZ, you're right. If you believe that you're entitled to protect yourself when faced with imminent serious physical injury, you're right. But, if you believe that you're entitled to shoot at a deputy or officer, you've got another think coming! While we live in the West; this is not the Wild, Wild West,” Pinal County Attorney Lando Voyles said. He continued to state, “The sentencing for shooting at law enforcement ranges from a presumptive 10.5 to 21 years in Arizona and the drug charge conviction carries the potential for an additional 0.33 to 2 years. Williams faces up to 23 years in Arizona Department of Corrections and a sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 10, 2013.”

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu said, "This conviction underscores the change in prosecution of violent criminals in Pinal County. Law enforcement is very thankful for this more aggressive approach that guarantees stiff consequences when a criminal fights or shoots at a cop."